A Special Message from Lynn Slocomb

First, thank you all for your continued love and support throughout this process. I want you to know I see you. I appreciate you. I love you. All of the things you are feeling: excitement, worry, care, concern, apprehension, love...I'm feeling them right there with you. We are a commUNITY though, and I wouldn't go through this any other way.

For those of you that don't know much about me: I took my first yoga class in my mid-twenties. At that time, I was the health and fitness director for the YWCA in Lancaster, PA and the quintessential gym rat, teaching group exercise for almost a decade. Yoga was just too time consuming and I couldn't figure out how sitting and breathing could accomplish anything. If I only knew then what I know now. I tried to "fit yoga in" here and there throughout the years whenever I could "justify" the time away from work in the corporate world and being a single mother. After battling stage III breast cancer, several surgeries, and significant weight gain, high-impact workouts only led to one injury after another. In addition, life became busier and busier as my family of two grew to seven when I married my wonderful husband and we relocated to Landenberg. It was here that I found Unite for Her, a program "committed to helping women diagnosed with breast cancer navigate their way through treatment by providing complimentary therapies designed to promote physical and emotional wellness." These complimentary therapies led me to Alison Donley and The Light Within. I have been practicing at The Light Within since 2012. I love Ashtanga, but NEED Restorative and Gentle classes for balance. I have also learned to love myself where I'm at and to make time for my own practice. I am mostly teaching Gentle Restorative and Gentle Evolving Level classes and believe that breath should come first, movement next, and we should always lead with our heart. I believe the guiding principle of Yoga is "do no harm," and lastly, but certainly not least, Yoga is for every BODY. Off the mat, I run a nonprofit, The BucketWish Foundation, and enjoy hanging out with my family, throwing pottery, and cooking.

When the opportunity to purchase the studio became a reality, I contemplated for weeks as to whether or not this was not only the right move for me, but the right move for this commUNITY. I couldn't stop thinking about it though. It felt like the most perfect garment. It fit. It just fit. No alterations needs. No tugging or pulling.The relationship I have with Alison is not only as teacher student; we are also great friends. We have a deep love and respect for each other, this commUNITY, and this awesome practice of self-love, YOGA. You can rest easy and know that the integrity, love, dedication, and devotion to this practice and commUNITY will be upheld and preserved throughout this transition and in all that lies ahead in OUR future.

Again, thank you for your continued support. I can't tell you how excited I am to see all of you practicing in the new space come October 1st! We will be located at 263 West Evergreen St. West Grove, PA 19390.

Please join us for an open house on Friday, September 29, 2017! We will announce details for the open house soon on Facebook. There is parking available at the building and overflow parking available across the street (Guernsey Rd.) in the upper lot of Dr. Jenny Chen's building.

Much Love and Gratitude,Lynn

A Special Message from Alison Donley

Dear students,

On October 1st the studio will be under new ownership and in a new hOMe. We are so excited about this transition as the new space (building on Evergreen where Curves was) will provide more practice area, fewer parking issues, a much easier entrance to navigate, and many other upgrades. For those of you who do not know where this space is, it is within 2 blocks.

We know many of you really love our space at 11 Exchange Place. We do too. It has been a wonderful space and will always have lots of incredible memories, but it is time for growth through change!

We are all so excited for the transitions that will take place as the studio continues to grow and blossom in its new home under the leadership of the new owner with our existing staff.The last day for classes at 11 Exchange Place will be Saturday, September 30th. Please keep scheduling into 2018 if you want, as all systems will remain in place.

Alison is not going anywhere, and looks forward to seeing you in class soon!

We all have so much gratitude for your continued support and friendship and are so excited to continue to share Yoga with you.

With love and gratitude, Alison, Lynn, and all the instructors at The Light WithinChange is inevitable…growth is optional. ❤~Author unknown

Previous Message:Hi Everyone,

I am sending this message to let you know of some amazing changes that will be taking place over the next few months at The Light Within Yoga Studio.Since the word is getting out, I thought it may be best that you hear this news from me, but first…because I am a weirdo, I have a little story to share about seeds.

Every seed needs 4 things to grow:1- Soil2- Water3- Sun4- Time

The SeedAs I teen when I discovered the book, Light on Yoga and knew that the postures I was teaching myself had “special sauce”, little did I know how big, wide and far the Path was and where it would take me. The idea of opening the studio was like a seed in my heart for many years. After moving to West Grove, I was strongly encouraged by local students (thank you Pat McKeon, AnneMarie Lysle and Karen McKenica!) in my Avon Grove Recreation Association classes to find a space. Eleven Exchange Place had the vibe I was searching for. After two decades of being a nomadic yoga teacher, it felt like the right container.

Soil-The love of a mantra, “Om mani padme hum”, the song “This little light of mine” and the *quote below were the soil that sprouted the seed and inspired the name. My amazing daughter, Rachel, created the logo from the mantra and quote. Her creativity has since led her to the world of designing Escape rooms in San Francisco.The blooming lotus represents the pure light of awareness (love and joy with no boundaries- purusha) that shines outward when one’s body, mind and spirit are united (Yoga) with/connected to the force that is all around us. My amazing son, Trevor, helped with the business-y stuff that made me want to cry. He is now a successful businessman that clearly got the business gene that his Mother did not/does not possess. Along with my husband, Dean, my family helped in so many ways to give this seed the opportunity to sprout. My love and gratitude for them is bigger than any words could express.

Water-The nurturing love and compassion of all who have taught and will continue to teach at the studio has been incredible. These teachers have been like the water that has allowed the seed to grow. They are fluid and filled with grace. I have a mad love and gratitude for these people in my life and for all they have given and will continue to give to the studio.

Sun-You. Yes, you reading this…YOU have provided the energy (encouragement and financial support) that has kept this thing going. Thank you all for putting your trust in us to allow us to continue growing. We are delighted at how you show up to do something kind for yourself. This is not lost on any of us, your teachers. You have been our sun.

Time-For the past 13 years, I have been teaching yoga classes and running the studio while also teaching full time at West Chester University. In 2010 the wonderful opportunity to be an Advisor for Unite for HER was offered to me. I accepted with gratitude knowing that yoga could be so helpful to the women in our area who are affected by breast cancer. All the while the yoga program at WCU that started out as another small seed in 1998 has blossomed into a program that approximately 700 students take per year. It was manageable at first, but in my best interest and in the best interest of the studio, I have decided to sell the studio. I have never been, nor do I aspire to be, a business person. The studio needs one now.I love Yoga and I love teaching yoga classes and training yoga teachers. That is what I will now devote my time to. I will remain at the studio in those roles, and will continue to teach full time at WCU, where we are now developing the Center for Contemplative Studies.

Now the studio is way past the seedling stage and ready to root deeper and grow wider.That takes someone with more time and a far better business sense than I have.

My children are all grown up and the studio is too. The new-soon-to-be owner loves our community and is full of love. Her aim is to stay just as we are and build upon what has been created. I will introduce her to you all soon!

The Light Within Yoga Studio will never have beer & yoga, wine & yoga, weed & yoga; yoga with goats, dogs, cats, blue lights, rock music, sauna-like heat, etc., even as much as many of us may love some of those things. We do not aspire to be a trendy. We aspire to inspire as you all have inspired us.

With great BIG love and gratitude,Alison

*True LoveWhen we truly love someone, we love the Light within that person. The process of enlightenment is the Path of learning to appreciate the Light within both ourselves and those we love, and seeking to allow the full expression of our Self as well as the Self of others. ~Swami Rama “Freedom on the Field of Action,” Yoga International, (March/April 1992), p. 21